Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Jan Karon is a renowned American Author and a novelist and who was born by the name Janice Meredith Wilson in the year 1937, in Lenoir in North Carolina,to which she was named aftera popular novel’s tittle , Janice Meredith. Actually, Jan Karon new as long as she was young that she wanted to be a writer. As a matter of fact, she went on to write her first novel when she was about 10 years old, basically, the same year that she won a short story contest which had apparently been organized by a local high school. Although, writing remained her life long dream, at 18 years however, Jan began working as a receptionist for Charlotte,N.C and advertising agency. It is here that she advanced in the company’s ranks after leaving samples of her writing on top of her boss desk, who of course noticed her exemplary talent in writing. Thereafter, Jan Karon went on to have a very successful career in the advertisement field, winning awards for various advertisement agencies from Charlotte all the way to San Francisco.

Jan Karon had previously gotten married as a teenager and had a daughter, Candice. Subsequently, Jan became a creative writing vice president at the high profile McKinney and Silver in Raleigh. While here, she also won the prestigious Stephen Kelly Award, but even while in the advertising field career, Karon ensured that she kept her childhood’s ambition to be an author, fire burning. Eventually, at 50, she left her career in advertising and relocated to Blowing rock in North Carolina, to pursue her life long writing dream.At the onset she tried, struggled and failed to get her writing underway , but one night as she was sleeping , she woke with imagination of an Episcopal priest. She got curious about him and began writing . Sooner than later, Sharon was publishing weekly installments about father Tim as his main character in the Blowing Rocket, a local newspaper. As a result, it saw the circulation of this paper double. Her Mitford series then grew to be a collection of about 9 novels regarding the life if this father Tim Cavanaugh, the episcopal priest .

Essentially, The Tim stories became the Jan’s First Mitford novel, set in a fictional community of Mitford, in North Carolina. This book has since been nominated almost 3 times and actually the only book ever to be nominated for 3 consecutive years, that is in 1996 in 1997 as well as in 1998 for the American Bookseller Book of the year Award. A tittle that honor one of the most recommended books to the customers by bookstore owners. Basically, Jan Karon’s fiction story is renowned for its small town charm and its lack of profanity, violence and sex. Furthermore, several books in the Mitford series have won God Medallion Awards, plus all the five books she has authored have landed on New York Times bestseller list, with Out of Canaan, being the first on the list. That to add, that the fourth Mitford novel, a New Song, won both the Christy and the Gold Medallion awards in the year 2000. In addition, A common life, In this mountain and the Shepherds abiding have all won the Gold Medallion award as well.

Moreover, Jan Karon has also published two other christian books based on the Mitford series, that is the Esther’s gift and the Mitford Snowmen, the Kitchen Reader and Mitford Cookbook as well as Patches of Godlight, a Continual Feast, together with other children books, the Miss Fannie’s Hat and Jeremy to the Trellis and the Seed to mention just but a few.

Some of the renowned and interesting books that she wrote comprised of the At Home with Mitford. This book for instance describes how it feels at home here at Mitford, North Carolina. Basically, in this green high hills, the air here is pure and the village is interesting just like the people are friendly. However, Father Tim, a bachelor rector desires for something more. Then enters a dog almost the size of the sofa who after moving in, is not ready to go away soon. Plus, there is a very appealing neighbor who begins to wear a path into the hedge. Then stirs in a lovable, yet unloved boy , a mysterious jewel theft together with a 60 years’ old secret. Father Tim, suddenly gets more than he bargained for as the reader gets consumed in a hilarious comedy about ordinary people and with their ordinary lives.

In this mountain, is also another interesting book in the beloved Mitford series. Here Cynthia and father Tim have been at Mitford at home for almost 3 years since they returned from white cap island. In a small town which is home away from home to the readers as well, life moves along normally. Dooley looks towards his career and profession as a vet, while Fancy Skinner and Joe Ivey fight against a hair cut price war which do not take any prisoners even as small steps out on a limb and with a risky list item in the main street Grill. Although Father Tim do not like change, he even detest retirement even more. So as Cynthia and Father Tim prepares for a year longer ministry service across the state line, series of some occurrence sends shock through father Tim’s faith and the entire Mitford town. It is here therefore, that Jan Karon present a lots of surprises of all kinds, which include the return of a man in the attic and of course a very interesting ending that is quite unforgettable by every reader.

Basically, Jan’s characters are so real that every reader feels like they literally knows them from an up close and in almost from a personal level. This has been promoted from the way these books are meticulously plotted and written. Father Tim is one of the readers most interesting character. However, much as Karon is so profound in writing some of her bestselling series, her books are yet to be adopted by any television or any movie for a cast yet, but she has been designated a lay Canon for the arts in the Episcopal Quincy diocese in Illinois.

With the latest book in the Gray Man series by Mark Greaney coming out soon, we wanted to make the very first book in the series our book of the month.

Greaney is an incredible author and if you love the "lone badass" type of books then you will LOVE the Court "Gray Man" Gentry series. Read more about it.

Featured Series

It might seem like overkill, but we're giving The Gray Man series our featured series of the month.

Honestly this is such a great series and we feel not enough people read it so we want to push it. Read more about The Gray Man series and seriously if you haven't read it - start! Amazing thrillers.

Featured Author

Mark Greaney is an incredibly talented author. Not only does he write the Gray Man series however he also writes various Jack Ryan novels. Many feel he is the best writer of them and he truly is a great author. We're happy to award our author of the month to Mark Greaney.

Did You Know…

Prior to becoming a full time novelist Alex Berenson covered the occupation of Iraq for the Times. More recently, he has covered the pharmaceutical and health care industries, specializing in issues concerning dangerous drugs. Since December 2008, Berenson has reported on the Bernard Madoff $50 billion Ponzi scheme scandal.